Tampa Subsidiary Will Do Heavy Lifting

Lockheed Martin has signed a contract valued at more than US$73 million (C$95 million), with options, to provide three KC-130J Weapon Systems Trainers (WSTs) to the US Marine Corps. Design, manufacture, and integration of the KC-130J WSTs has been subcontracted to CAE USA in Tampa (FL) on a contract valued at approximately US$34 million (C$44 million).

The simulators will support training requirements for aircrews of the KC-130J, a medium-sized transport and tanker used for airlift and aerial refueling operations of both tactical aircraft and helicopters. A significant portion of the work will be done at CAE USA's facility in Tampa.

The first KC-130J WST will be delivered in mid-2006 to the Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point, North Carolina. The second and third are scheduled for delivery to MCAS Miramar in California and MCAS Futenma in Okinawa, Japan, in late 2006 and early 2008, respectively. The KC-130J WSTs will be highly customized for Marine Corps tanker training, including a refueling station at the augmented crew position in the cockpit.

"The KC-130J represents a significant increase in airlift and refueling capabilities for the Marine Corps, and is a key component in the aviation recapitalization designed to extend the operational reach of the Marine Corps," said John Lenyo, president and general manager, CAE USA. "The Lockheed Martin-CAE team will help ensure that the aircrews flying the KC-130J are prepared and ready for mission success."

The Marine Corps is procuring the KC-130J WSTs under an existing US Air Force's C-130J Maintenance and Aircrew Training System contract announced in November 2003. That contract followed a multi-year C-130J aircraft acquisition award to Lockheed Martin in early 2003, valued at more than US$4 billion.

Under the multi-year acquisition contract, the Marine Corps ordered 20 KC-130J tankers and the Air Force ordered 40 C-130J aircraft. As Lockheed Martin's long-time training systems partner on the C-130J aircraft program, this contract award brings CAE to a total of 23 C-130J training devices either delivered or on-contract, not including contract options. These training devices include full-flight simulators, cockpit procedures trainers, maintenance trainers, and loadmaster trainers.

FMI: www.cae.com/en/general/index.shtml